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Jamaican Olympic Medalists Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell Switch Allegiance to Turkey

They cited half-million-dollar bonuses coupled with chronic underfunding of field events in Jamaica

Athletics - Diamond League - Brussels - King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium - September 14, 2024 Rajindra Campbell of Jamaica in action during the Men's Shot Put REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
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Overview

  • On June 19, 2025, Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell officially changed their athletic affiliation from Jamaica to Turkey under World Athletics eligibility rules
  • Turkey offered each athlete a $500,000 signing bonus along with monthly stipends and significant medal incentives
  • Turkish Sports Ministry consultant Onder Ozbilen said the pair will serve as role models in a new development project and warned no further Jamaican throwers will be nationalized for the next decade
  • The departures provoked widespread outrage in Jamaica and underscored long-standing neglect and resource gaps for field athletes compared with sprinters
  • Triple jumper Jaydon Hibbert and long jumper Wayne Pinnock are reported to be considering similar allegiance switches, suggesting a broader exodus is possible